Feeding rhythms of caged hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus L.)

The feeding behaviour of four adult caged hedgehogs was studied for a period of 22 weeks. The maximum feeding activity of all four animals occurred between 1900 and 2200 hours, and two of them showed a second, but minor, peak of activity about 0300 hours. Individual feeds were of short duration with the first feed each evening tending to exceed the mean. Variations in behaviour between individuals were considered to be a function of their differing body weights, or to be related to the size of the sample. The feeding behaviour of the caged animals was similar to that reported from comparable field studies